Hi everyone,
I'm new to this group and have really enjoyed reading all the old posts and now I'm hoping you might have some advice for me!
I have a gorgeous (aren't they all?) 2 year old, neutered male, and people have always said what a beautiful natured dog he is... up until a couple of months ago. He started off chasing the odd cyclist then moved onto chasing joggers and now I don't feel that his behaviour out in public is reliable anymore. Sometimes he barks at people - not just a woof but a full-on standing-on-his-toes-I-mean-business-bark and sometimes he is quite friendly with strangers. This week he seems to be worse with men, last week it was people carrying things but I can't really see any pattern to it and I panic anytime I see a kid in case they run up and want to pat him.
I thought by 2 we would be past all this sort of thing and it's worrying me that he is starting all this now when he is fully grown. Does anyone have any ideas? Can someone please tell me they went through a difficult phase but it got better?!?
I know there can never be enough for him to do but he does get two walks a day plus a "formal" training session and plenty of activity toys while we're at work (fed from treat-balls and kongs etc). My favourite training group which was clicker-training has folded unfortunately but I'm having some private lessons with one of the trainers to work on desensitising him to anything I think he is reacting to.
Thanks for your opinions!
I'm new to this group and have really enjoyed reading all the old posts and now I'm hoping you might have some advice for me!
I have a gorgeous (aren't they all?) 2 year old, neutered male, and people have always said what a beautiful natured dog he is... up until a couple of months ago. He started off chasing the odd cyclist then moved onto chasing joggers and now I don't feel that his behaviour out in public is reliable anymore. Sometimes he barks at people - not just a woof but a full-on standing-on-his-toes-I-mean-business-bark and sometimes he is quite friendly with strangers. This week he seems to be worse with men, last week it was people carrying things but I can't really see any pattern to it and I panic anytime I see a kid in case they run up and want to pat him.
I thought by 2 we would be past all this sort of thing and it's worrying me that he is starting all this now when he is fully grown. Does anyone have any ideas? Can someone please tell me they went through a difficult phase but it got better?!?
I know there can never be enough for him to do but he does get two walks a day plus a "formal" training session and plenty of activity toys while we're at work (fed from treat-balls and kongs etc). My favourite training group which was clicker-training has folded unfortunately but I'm having some private lessons with one of the trainers to work on desensitising him to anything I think he is reacting to.
Thanks for your opinions!